Tread for tires.



F. S. INGOLDSBY.

TREAD FOR TIRES. mwucmqn man JULY 18, 1914/ 1,176,295. Patented Mar. 21,1916.

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FRANK S. INGOLDSCBY, OF PINE LAKE, MICHIGAN.

TREAD FOR TIRES.

Application filed July 18, 1914. Serial No. 851,690.

This invention is for a tread for vehicle tires adapted to be used on the wheels of vehicles to deaden the noise and provide good traction.

An object of this inventlon is to provlde such a tread which shall have the greatest possible strength and lasting qualities and which is adapted to prevent skidding.

My tread is composed of alternate blocks of wood, fiber, or like material, andmetal plates.

Another object is to so arrange the blocks and plates as most securely to hold the blocks in position, while providing a tread which shall grip the roadbed in such a man ner as to procure the best tractive hold.

A most valuable feature of my inventlon is that throughout the entire life of the tread the outer edges of the metal plates are being continually clenched into the outer edges of the blocks thus securing the blocks most effectively no matter how much the tread wears down.

A feature of my invention is that the plates shall wear away a trifle more slowly than the blocks, thereby providing the desirable projections for the tractive hold throughout the life of the tread.

Another feature of my tread is that as the metal members are worn and jammed inwardly, they separate the blocks, which tends to tighten them and thereby prevents loosening by wearing.

Still another object is to so construct the tread that it may be most cheaply manufactured and easily assembled to the wheel.

My invention is hereinafter more fully described in connection with the drawings and the essential characteristics are set forth in the claims. I

In the drawings Figure 1 is a transverse section through a rim member having an annular recess to receive the tread and showing one block of the tread in position; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of a series of alternate blocks and plates strung on retaining wires; Fig. 3 is a plan of the same; Fig. 4

is a side elevation of the tread showing its condition after use; Fig. 5 is a side eleva tion of a modified form of alternate blocks and metal members; Fig. 6 is a side elevatlon and Fig. 7 is an edge view of a modified form of plates to be used between the blocks.

Referring to the drawings by reference numerals, 10 indicates a rim member suitably mounted on or forming a part of the wheel of the vehicle; having an annular recess 11 preferably provided with slightly flaring sides 12 and a crowned base 141.

15 indicates the blocks forming the greater part of thetread, which may be strung onto wires 16, of which there may be any convenient number, two belng shown. Between these blocks are provided thin metal plates 18. These blocks and plates are shown as substantially rectangular in cross section, having roundedouter corners 19 and having their inner faces and sides shaped to conform to the recess in the rim of the vehicle wheel. The adjacent sides of the blocks are made radial so that they mav fit snugly against the metal members, thus forming a rigid tread.

In the form shown in Figs. 1 to 4:, each block and plate is provided with holes for threading the same onto circumferential wires 16. These wires are provided with eyes 20 at their ends, for securing the tread in position by suitable means. There may be a suitable distance piece between the eyes and the rim, and the eyes may be surmounted by a suitable block having a contour similar to that of the other blocks.

The metal plates 18. (of which there may be one or more between adjacent blocks) come to or project above the surface of the blocks to engage the roadway. If they come to the surface of the blocks they act like a hard grain and but little wear of the softer blocks is required to make a ridged periphery improving traction, or if they project above the surface of the blocks the ridged periphery exists before the tread is worn at all, and thus an improved traction is secured with either form.

The outer edges. of these metal plates, whether projecting or flush, will become jammed and clenched into the outer edges of the blocks, as at 24:, Fig. 4, by wear against the roadway, thereby insuring the blocks being securely held in position no matter how much the tread wears down.

This is particularly desirable when wooden blocks are used, as they are preferably arranged so that the wear comes on the end platesengaging them. This jamming and.

clenching of the metal plates to secure the blocks, is an important feature of my invention. As the material of the blocks wears away more rapidly than the metal, the plates will always project above the blocks and thus present a ridged tread to procurethe best tractive hold on the roadway, which is another important feature of my invention.

,The action of the roadway on the edges of the plates besides clenching and ,j ammin them will tend to buckle them as indicatec at 22 in Fig. 4, which serves to tighten up the tread by separating the blocks throughout the entire periphery. This is one of the desirable features of ,my invention.

' The blocks maycomprise wood, fiber or 7 suitable composition, it being desirable to provide a material which will deaden the noise made by themetal, while allowing particles of grit, etc., to adhere to the periphery,

thereby increasing the tractive hold and tending to prevent skidding. By dipping the blocks in some preparation, such as tar, oil or other material acting not only to preserve theblo cks but .to cause them to adhere tightly to the rim, more life may be added to thetread and it may be more securely held in position.

In Fig. 5 is shown a modification in which the wires 16 are not used, but in which the blocks may be held in position by any suitable means, such for example, as grooving the sides thereof (as indicated bybroken lines 28) and engaging them with flanges on the wheel projecting intosuch grooves. Whether or notthe wires are employed, the metal plates may be additionally secured in position by bending them over sharply as at 25, at their inner edges, to engage beneath the separate blocks '26, correspondingto the blocks 15. i i

In Fi sfi and 7 isshown a modified form plate whichhas short sharp "projections 30 extending from the sides thereof and integral' therewith. These projections engage the material of the blocks to provide additional securingmeans for the blocks.

It will be seen from the foregoing description that I have provided a tire tread ac- Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the dommiss Washington, 0.

complishing the above objects, which not only gives a good traction, obviating the use of chains nnder many conditions, but such tread may be cheaply manufactured, the blocksbeing made for instance from small pieces and scrap blocks of wood, while the vmetal members may be readily stamped by and having their outer edges projecting beyondand adapted to be bent to engage the 1 edges of the blocks.

'2. A tread for vehicle wheels comprising 7 a series of blocks having substantially radial adjacent sides whereby they may be arranged in an annulus, metal members between such blocks extending beyond said blocks and adapted to have their ends bent to engage the outer edges of thefsame, said blocks and plates having holes therethrough for the reception of wires'on whichxthey may be strung.

3. A tread for vehicle wheels comprising a series of blocks adapted to be mounted on the rim of a wheel, and thin members-between adjacent blocks adapted tobear at their inner ends against the. rim and extending substantially beyond the tractive surface of the blocks and adapted to have their ends bent by engagement with the roadway.

i. A tread for vehicle wheels comprising a series of blocks arranged in an annulus about the rim of a wheel and having sub- .stantially radial adjacent surfaces and comparatively thin sheet metal transverse intervenmg plates adapted to hear at then inner ends against the rlm. and extending substantially beyond the tractive surface of.

the blocks and adapted to be bent in use to overlap the corners of theblocks.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto afiix my signature nesses.

.Vitnesses:

FLOYD B. Raccoon, STANLEY C. ROGERS.

ioner of Patents,

in the presence of two wit- FRANK S. INGOLDSBY; V 

